[asif03]

Had my car in for a service on Saturday and while wandering around I noticed a 440i with the M Perf exhaust tips. I initially just thought it was the M Perf Exhaust and as a 440i with the MPE is on my list of potential next cars I wanted to hear it. They had a M135i next to it too so I got the gent to start both for me.

The M135i was nice. Nice sound, not too loud, slight crackles/pops. I'd assume an M140i would sound a touch better than the older M135i? I liked it and would be happy with that exhaust tone.

Then he started up the 440i. Wow! I was shocked at how loud it was! I was still of the impression it was just the MPE and not the full MPPSK so I personally was a little disappointed as it was just too loud for me. It's not that I didn't like it. The engine sound was still there and it just sounded beautiful, but more so the fact that I leave for work at 6am and the neighbours would most definitely not approve

An hour later it clicked, 'could that be the MPPSK?' So I checked the ad online and yes, it was the MPPSK. I have to say I don't think it suited the car in standard form. As in I think it needed the M Perf exterior kit for the sound to really match the look of the car.

So a couple of questions. What's the difference in sound between a stock M135i/40i compared to a stock 3/440i? Quite similar, or are the M135/40i's a little more aggressive sounding? Would a 3/440i with MPE sound closer to an M135/40i? Anyone driven/experienced both?

[JustChris]

They would both be similar IMO. I can only speak of M235i which I had the MPerf fitted to (what a bargain best £800 OEM mod ever really). The sound was the typical BMW 30sec loud start up routine, it was a proper neighbour curtain twitcher IMO. The M4 (stick zorst) was LUDER but by about 20% guestimate and not as nice a noise.

Neither are for shrinking violets if you're worried about statrt, there's nothng you can do to quieten it as you're not even starting it in Sport mode, its just the cars start up loud cycle, then it settles to normal.

IMO a current car 440i MPPK to M140i MPE should be very very similar, not a huge amount of physical differences. Man when they start those cars in the dealer showroom everyone comes over for a look Great sound!

Finally I'm sure you've seen loads of YouTube clips but they're almost worthless, you have to sample if IRL.

[Worzey]

I love my 440i with the MPPSK.

Sure its loud on start-up while it warms up but as said above it doesn't take too long.

In anticipation of a complaint I made a preemptive apology to the neighbours but none of them had heard it despite idling while I cleaned ice of the windows a few weeks back.

Sport mode is loud and it pops and bangs away merrily but if you leave it in comfort mode it's very easy to live with.

Horses of courses. Anyway its much, much quieter than my other car

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by JustChris

They would both be similar IMO. I can only speak of M235i which I had the MPerf fitted to (what a bargain best £800 OEM mod ever really). The sound was the typical BMW 30sec loud start up routine, it was a proper neighbour curtain twitcher IMO. The M4 (stick zorst) was LUDER but by about 20% guestimate and not as nice a noise.

Neither are for shrinking violets if you're worried about statrt, there's nothng you can do to quieten it as you're not even starting it in Sport mode, its just the cars start up loud cycle, then it settles to normal.

IMO a current car 440i MPPK to M140i MPE should be very very similar, not a huge amount of physical differences. Man when they start those cars in the dealer showroom everyone comes over for a look Great sound!

Finally I'm sure you've seen loads of YouTube clips but they're almost worthless, you have to sample if IRL.

I owned an M235 with an MPE fitted and recently test drove a 440i with one. The 4 series popped a lot more on the over run. Very noticeable.Also louder.

[NotGotABimmer23]

The m240i and m140i with MPE will be quieter than the 3s and 4s with MPPK. This is due to the mid pipe in the 1&2 having an additional silencer and larger resonator. I would imagine if you straight piped from cat back to MPE back box they would be more similar but i think the MPE back box on the 3/4 is valved where as the 1/2 box is not.

[Tobamory]

Yeah its the start up that's Loudish, then it quietens down after its warm, i drove 500 miles in mine last week and you don't notice it in Comfort at all, but if you go sport on Motorway it drones...

That being said nothing like it when your in sport mode with the button press, reason i say that is if you just knock the gear knob over for sport it doesn't engage the flaps in the exhaust...

Lots of pops and the odd bang/backfire really good fun ...but also that extra 34 BHP counts, although the dials in mine say I'm running 385....

there was a video of 2 side by side down south on a bypass and the MPPSK was noticiable faster than the stock. Considering its only 34BHP...i was shocked.

[Racing Teatray]

I currently own both an M135i manual with the MPE and a standard 440i GC auto. The M135i needed the MPE in my view because without it, it sounded a bit too smooth and polite for a hot hatch (and I was coming out of a Tubi-equipped V10 M5 that sounded positively Wagnerian). Equally I am of the view that the 440i GC is more the clenched fist in a velvet glove sort of car and sounds rather lovely just as it is (nicer than the M135i did as standard) so I'd be wary of ruining the sound by fitting the MPE kit.

The issue I have with the MPE is that I like a BMW straight six to sound like it does in eg an E46 M3 or a Z4M coupe. What I do not particularly want it to sound like is a powerful diesel motorboat. The MPE-equipped M135i is plain loud on start-up and sounds distinctly sea-going in the process. In addition, when you pull off gently with a cold engine, the wugga-wugga tune it plays is definitely more "cruise through the marina at 4mph" than anything particularly road-orientated. All the footage of MPE-equipped 3/440is I've heard sound similar, so that puts me off.

If I could get a sports exhaust that accentuates the snarls and howls without all the dieselly bass thunder, then I would be interested.

[Torque of the Devil]

Annoyingly the MPE for the 440i is not switchable so comfort/sport button makes no difference to the noise

You have to go up the MPPK exhaust to get the switchable valve

A huge oversight on BMW part as i'd like a bit more noise but don't want it all the time

I don't know why thye MPE on the 1/2 series is switchable but you cant have this on the 3/4 series

I'm guessing they want to force you down the MPPK route

[asif03]

Some interesting replies. Thanks all!

Originally Posted by Vanguard

Annoyingly the MPE for the 440i is not switchable so comfort/sport button makes no difference to the noise

You have to go up the MPPK exhaust to get the switchable valve

A huge oversight on BMW part as i'd like a bit more noise but don't want it all the time

I don't know why thye MPE on the 1/2 series is switchable but you cant have this on the 3/4 series

I'm guessing they want to force you down the MPPK route

Are you sure the MPE on the 3/4 doesn't have a valve? From the YouTube videos I've seen I thought they did have? They seem to sound louder in Sport/+ and I'm sure you can hear it switching open?

[Torque of the Devil]

Yes I was going to buy one and Aran at BMW Reading confirmed no valve, even has dummy actuator for the wiring to connect to but it doesn't do anything

MPPK exhaust does have the valve though

[Riffs]

I always thought the stock sound of the 440i was rather mild but my neighbour did comment on it recently, in a 'it wakes the baby up - oooh, but it's not an issue' kind of way. It is very quiet round here so that may flag the noise up a little bit more than the norm.

Just as well I didn't buy an M4. Which I almost very nearly did.

I hve heard 440is with MPPSK and they are monsters!

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

Annoyingly the MPE for the 440i is not switchable so comfort/sport button makes no difference to the noise

You have to go up the MPPK exhaust to get the switchable valve

A huge oversight on BMW part as i'd like a bit more noise but don't want it all the time

I don't know why thye MPE on the 1/2 series is switchable but you cant have this on the 3/4 series

I'm guessing they want to force you down the MPPK route

The mpe for the 140/240 does not have a valve, the x35i did but the new one does not!

[Torque of the Devil]

I had a M235i with MPE so was thinking of that one

[asif03]

Don't understand this tbh. Why do videos of the 3/440i show different sounds (more cracks and pops) when in Sport and Sport+? I thought the valve done this? Or is it something in the engine that changes?

[Grant_7]

There's no difference between Sport and Sport+ on my car (MPPSK 340i).

[asif03]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

There's no difference between Sport and Sport+ on my car (MPPSK 340i).

But between Comfort and Sport/Sport+ there is?

[P1 PET]

What about the sound of AWE Tuning exhausts? Any good to your ears?

[asif03]

Originally Posted by P1 PET

What about the sound of AWE Tuning exhausts? Any good to your ears?

Will have a listen a little later, thanks.

Do you know how much these AWE's are? And is it just a back box or is it a full exhaust, or do they do both?

[Grant_7]

Originally Posted by asif03

But between Comfort and Sport/Sport+ there is?

Yes, very much so.

[SkyJawa]

M135 stock or with MPE sounds better than the M140 stock or with mpe tbh. There's an extra silencer in the mid pipe on the M140, things get better with it removed

[225]

Originally Posted by Racing Teatray

I currently own both an M135i manual with the MPE and a standard 440i GC auto. The M135i needed the MPE in my view because without it, it sounded a bit too smooth and polite for a hot hatch (and I was coming out of a Tubi-equipped V10 M5 that sounded positively Wagnerian). Equally I am of the view that the 440i GC is more the clenched fist in a velvet glove sort of car and sounds rather lovely just as it is (nicer than the M135i did as standard) so I'd be wary of ruining the sound by fitting the MPE kit.

The issue I have with the MPE is that I like a BMW straight six to sound like it does in eg an E46 M3 or a Z4M coupe. What I do not particularly want it to sound like is a powerful diesel motorboat. The MPE-equipped M135i is plain loud on start-up and sounds distinctly sea-going in the process. In addition, when you pull off gently with a cold engine, the wugga-wugga tune it plays is definitely more "cruise through the marina at 4mph" than anything particularly road-orientated. All the footage of MPE-equipped 3/440is I've heard sound similar, so that puts me off.

If I could get a sports exhaust that accentuates the snarls and howls without all the dieselly bass thunder, then I would be interested.

Interesting I want my 340 to sound more like an old straight six with a deeper big engine sound not a higher pitched race car sound. Pops and crackles are great but seems a bit too much with the mppk however as grant has said I need to hear one on person. Maybe I'm missing the rover v8 in my old tvr!

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by Grant_7

Yes, very much so.

I would say comfort is marginally louder than standard sport mode but somehow a bit more purposeful. Sport mode (valves open) is straight through from the cat so pretty daft tbh. Hilarious daft, but daft all the same.